New Charlap CD Due in March

On March 23 Blue Note will release the follow-up to pianist Bill Charlap’s 2002 album, Stardust. On that album the hard-swinging Charlap (pictured) interpreted the songs of Hoagy Carmichael. The forthcoming album, titled Somewhere, has him playing the songs of another Great American Songbook hero, Leonard Bernstein. Somewhere is also another trio album, with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington (no relation) supporting the pianist. Each of Somewhere‘s dozen songs come from Bernstein’s Broadway scores, including tunes from West Side Story, On the Town, Wonderful Town, Fancy Free and Candide. Recorded at the Hit Factory in New York City, the album was engineered, produced and mixed by studio veteran Joel Moss. Here’s a track list:

Cool

Lucky to Be Me

It’s Love

Lonely Town

Jump

Some Other Time

Glitter and Be Gay

A Quiet Girl

Big Stuff

America

Ohio

Somewhere

Charlap plays lots of shows and always combs his hair. If you live in New York City, catching a Charlap show is pretty easy. He’s presently booked for a number of extended engagements at a few famous Big Apple jazz hot spots. But Charlap’s not Woody Allen or anything-he does leave New York. The tour dates below include a few stops at festivals and clubs across the country.

2/14/2004 • Burgdorf Cultural Center • Maplewood, NJ

2/18/2004 • Birdland • New York, NY

2/19/2004 • Birdland • New York, NY

2/20/2004 • Birdland • New York, NY

2/21/2004 • Birdland • New York, NY

3/10/2004 • Gold Coast Jazz Society • Vero Beach, FL

3/19/2004 • The March of Jazz • Clearwater, FL

3/20/2004 • The March of Jazz • Clearwater, FL

3/21/2004 • The March of Jazz • Clearwater, FL

3/28/2004 • NJPAC • Newark, NJ

4/7/2004 • Village Vanguard • New York, NY

4/8/2004 • Village Vanguard • New York, NY

4/9/2004 • Village Vanguard • New York, NY

4/10/2004 • Village Vanguard • New York, NY

4/11/2004 • Village Vanguard • New York, NY

4/13/2004 • Village Vanguard • New York, NY

4/14/2004 • Village Vanguard • New York, NY

4/15/2004 • Village Vanguard • New York, NY

4/16/2004 • Village Vanguard • New York, NY

4/17/2004 • Village Vanguard • New York, NY

4/18/2004 • Village Vanguard • New York, NY

5/2/2004 • Gilmore Piano Festival • Kalamazoo, MI

5/15/2004 • Albright-Knox Art Gallery • Buffalo, NY

5/20/2004 • Tribeca Arts Center • New York, NY

5/22/2004 • Jazz Fest • San Francisco, CA

6/4/2004 • The Cistern • Charleston, SC

6/5/2004 • Spoletto Festival • Charleston, SC

6/15/2004 • Kay Playhouse • New York, NY

7/8/2004 • Birdland • New York, NY

7/9/2004 • Birdland • New York, NY

7/10/2004 • Birdland • New York, NY

7/11/2004 • Birdland • New York, NY

7/20/2004 • 92nd St. YMCA • New York, NY

7/21/2004• 92rd St. YMCA • New York, NY

9/17/2004 • Monterey Jazz Festival • Monterey, CA

9/18/2004 • Monterey Jazz Festival • Monterey, CA

10/5/2004 • Algonquin Hotel • New York, NY

10/6/2004 • Algonquin Hotel • New York, NY

10/7/2004 • Algonquin Hotel • New York, NY

10/8/2004 • Algonquin Hotel • New York, NY

10/9/2004 • Algonquin Hotel • New York, NY

10/10/2004 • Algonquin Hotel • New York, NY

10/12/2004 • Algonquin Hotel • New York, NY

10/13/2004 • Algonquin Hotel • New York, NY

10/14/2004 • Algonquin Hotel • New York, NY

10/15/2004 • Algonquin Hotel • New York, NY

10/16/2004 • Algonquin Hotel • New York, NY

10/20/2004 • Club Coca Cola • New York, NY

10/21/2004 • Club Coca Cola • New York, NY

10/22/2004 • Club Coca Cola • New York, NY

10/23/2004 • Club Coca Cola • New York, NY

10/24/2004 • Club Coca Cola • New York, NY

10/25/2004 • Club Coca Cola • New York, NY

11/22/2004 • Merkin Hall • New York, NY

1/22/2005 • McCarter Theatre • Princeton, NJ

4/2/2005 • NJPAC • Newark, NJ

Originally Published February 11, 2004